Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz (450 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon bits
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- Fresh chives or parsley for decoration
- Olives or black peppercorns for the “pins”
- Optional: hot sauce or cayenne pepper for spice
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in the chopped onions, bacon bits, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add hot sauce or cayenne for extra spice if desired.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Shape the mixture into a large sphere or oval to form the main “body” of the pinhead cheeseball.
- Insert small slices of olives or whole black peppercorns at irregular intervals on the surface to mimic pins.
- Decorate with chopped herbs like chives or parsley for added creepy tendrils or hair.
- Place on a serving platter, add more herbs, and surround with crackers or vegetables. For extra spookiness, add plastic spiders or cobwebs if desired.
Notes
- Wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon or replace with crispy chickpeas.
- Adjust spice levels by adding more hot sauce or cayenne pepper.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (if making bacon bits separately)
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mixing, Shaping, Decorating
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/8 of the cheeseball)
- Calories: 150 Kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 30mg